Do you think of all gemstones as diamonds?
The Earth is home to countless gemstones that have formed over tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of years. Diamonds are just one of those many gemstones.
Colored gemstones have been used for a variety of purposes since ancient times, as amulets, symbols of power, and as women's ornaments. With a wide range of colors including red, blue, and green, they are colorful and mystical. Colored gemstones continue to fascinate people's hearts.
colorAbout the quality of the stone
In reality, there are no clear grades for colored gemstones. For example, in the market, sapphires with darker colors are highly valued, while some customers prefer lighter shades. A colored gemstone that is highly valued in the market may not necessarily suit your personal preference, so we recommend that you inspect the gemstone yourself before purchasing whenever possible.Generally, gemstones with deep, vibrant colors and few inclusions tend to be more highly valued, but this isn't always the case. This is what makes gemstones so complex and different from diamonds!
However, it's good to have this knowledge, so I'll summarize the general evaluations here. Please use it as a reference.
At Hojudo, we evaluate colored gemstones based on the following criteria:
Furthermore, to help you understand the quality as much as possible even when shopping online, we have included this item chart on the colored gemstone loose stone product page on the Hojudo website, so please check it out as well.
▼Check out the colored gemstone loose stones
1. Vibrancy
Brightly colored gemstones emit a luster and sparkle. Personally, I consider this to be the most important factor when it comes to colored gemstones. If the color isn't vibrant, even a beautiful gemstone can end up looking dull. Generally speaking, gemstones with strong vibrancy are preferred.
2. Hue
For example, even within the color blue, there are various shades, such as blues that lean towards purple or blues that lean towards green, and preferences vary. Often, they look like completely different gemstones. It can be difficult to describe in words, so the best way to appreciate them is to see them in person.
3. Brightness
Some gemstones, like aquamarine, are characterized by their pale blue color, while others, like ruby, are preferred for their deep red color; there's a wide variety. Even within the same gemstone, some people prefer darker colors, while others prefer lighter ones. However, if a gemstone is highly transparent and too pale in color, it may become see-through when made into a ring, allowing the color of your finger to show through, so this is something to be careful about when choosing.
4. Inclusions
Inclusions are impurities that naturally occur within a gemstone, consisting of components other than the gem itself. They are well-known as a criterion for evaluating clarity in diamonds. Generally, fewer inclusions indicate higher transparency and a higher value. On the other hand, inclusions are sometimes seen as part of a gemstone's unique character and are cherished by collectors. We often have customers who have photographs of inclusions taken under a microscope. Some gemstones, like star rubies, exhibit an asterism effect (star color effect) where fibrous inclusions form six rays of light, while others, like cat's eye gemstones, exhibit a single ray of light resembling a cat's eye (chatoyancy effect), truly becoming works of art. This, too, is one of the great appeals of colored gemstones.
5. Place of origin
Because the composition of gemstones differs depending on their origin, there are variations in color. For example, with rubies, those from Myanmar are often a vivid, deep red, sometimes called "pigeon's blood," while those from Thailand tend to be darker, and those from Sri Lanka are generally lighter in color. Rubies from Myanmar (Burma) fetch the highest prices. Below is a selection of highly-priced gemstones and their origins for your reference.
- Ruby: Myanmar (Burma)
- Sapphires: Kashmir, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka
- Emerald: Colombia
- Paraiba Tourmaline: Brazil
- Alexandrite: Russia
6. Special designations
Some exceptionally beautiful colored gemstones are given special names. Some are well-known and you may have heard of them, while others are rare and unusual.
- Ruby: Pigeon's Blood (a vivid, deep red color)
- Sapphire: Royal Blue (vivid, deep blue) / Cornflower (slightly lighter than Royal Blue)
- Aquamarine: Santa Maria color (vibrant, deep light blue)
- Coral: Blood-red coral (a bright red variety from Japan)
- Garnet: Demantoid (vivid pale yellowish-green)
7. Untreated (unheated, oil-free)
Many colored gemstones undergo heat treatment to improve their color. In contrast, unheated colored gemstones are beautiful without any enhancement and are traded at high prices. However, please note that some unheated colored gemstones may be cloudy.
At Hojudo, we recommend choosing products that are visually more appealing, even if they have undergone heat treatment.
While rubies and sapphires are well-known examples of unheated colored gemstones, other gemstones such as aquamarine and Paraiba tourmaline are generally heat-treated. In these cases as well, unheated gemstones tend to have a higher market value.
Emeralds, being gemstones that naturally contain many inclusions, are treated with oil impregnation to make the inclusions less visible and to increase their durability. However, emeralds that are beautiful in their natural state are not treated and are sold on the market as "non-oil emeralds," which fetch high prices.
At Hojudo, we recommend choosing products that are visually more appealing, even if they have undergone heat treatment.
While rubies and sapphires are well-known examples of unheated colored gemstones, other gemstones such as aquamarine and Paraiba tourmaline are generally heat-treated. In these cases as well, unheated gemstones tend to have a higher market value.
Emeralds, being gemstones that naturally contain many inclusions, are treated with oil impregnation to make the inclusions less visible and to increase their durability. However, emeralds that are beautiful in their natural state are not treated and are sold on the market as "non-oil emeralds," which fetch high prices.
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There are many types of colored gemstones, each with its own unique characteristics, so it's difficult to say "this is the one!" in a single word. However, that's what makes the selection process so enjoyable and rewarding.
Hojudo has approximately 700 pieces of colored gemstone jewelry and loose stones on display in its store.
Please feel free to take a look!
Also, if there are any colored gemstones you are looking for, we can order them for you, so please feel free to contact us.
Special Column
We also publish other articles about colored gemstones.
Please feel free to use this as a reference!
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